Mouth freshener and dental cleanser implement



Oct. 22, I L. K. 'BOYSEN MOUTH FRESHENER AND DENTAL CLEANSER IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 2, 1939 J mmzmmw NW r 4 HQ? Jam/WWW? 2 INVENTOR. [011:5 X6290 52 51:,

Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES MOUTH FRESHENER AND DENTAL CLEAN SEE HWPLEMENT Louis K. Boyse (7 8 l assignor of onefourth to Louis A. Bisson, Evanston, 111.

Application August 2, 1939, Serial No. 28 7,976

Claims.

This invention relates to an innovation in toilet accessories, which while observing the qualities of sanitary efliciency (used once and discarded) and economy (being manufactured of inexpensive ll material and. sold at low cost) it is sufliciently substantial to stand at least one mouth and dental cleansing operation, and it also provides an implement having sufficient commercial appeal, to make it popular.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and popular sanitary implement for the smokera field not hitherto covered. Its size and shape is that of the cigarette. It is sealed in Cellophane, practically air tight. It is made to fit a cigarette 15 case, and it is also attractive and convenient to carry. in a ladys hand bag; further, a manufacturer may'include one in each package of cigarettes.

Pull off the Cellophane hood from the headdip the head in water, and it is ready for use.

A further and broader object of the invention is to furnish at low cost a practical and convenient mouth cleanser, in a self-contained unit, compact and small in size, which will be useful to the public, in traveling, for dispensing in public washrooms, hotels, clubs, Pullmans, etc., and also for that part of the discriminating public which objects to the ordinary toothbrush as unsanitarythus promoting a wave of mouth cleansing consciousness. While the art shows many toothbrush substitutes, none are apparently sufliciently practical to attract commercial attention.

My invention breaks away from the ordinary and presents an entirely new form of mouth freshener and dental cleanser which is not only novel, but practical and undoubtedly has commercial appeal.

Another object is to provide a novel device of the character disclosed which comprises a compressed member of cylindrical form, composed of porous, spongy and resilient material, enclosed and held compressed in a jacket, wrapper or envelope, the latter having a severable portion acting as a cap or hood over an end portion of the porous member constituting the head thereof, and the remainder serving as a handle by which the device may be manipulated for application of the head portion when treating certain parts, as oral, of a person. Also, the device comprehends the inclusion of certain treating substances, such as a dentifrice or the like, in the treating head of the porous member where such substance may dissolve or effervesce, or the like, when wetted by a liquid, such as water, absorbed by the porous head. A decorative and protective covering or jacket may also be used which assists the function of the handle feature of the device, strengthens the device, and also maintains the device neat and clean as well as safe from premature severance of the cap or hood portion of the wrapis per. Also, because the porous material when wetted loses some of its firmness and may become limp, a supporter may be included in the porous head portion to give it lateral support and such firmness as will make for effective application 10 of such head when treating the parts referred to.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities, features, and the like, are comprehended by the invention as will later appear, and as are inherently possessed by the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the porous resilient member of the invention before it is compressed;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a support with go treating elements, such as tablets, shown in space relation, to occupy the inside of the member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the member shown in Fig. 1 in which the elements shown in Fig. 2 have been inserted;

Fig. 4 is a,transverse sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 4-4 in Fig. 3 of the drawing;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of ments shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the article shown in Fig. 3 held compressed in a wrapper;

Fig. 7 is a transverse-sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 1-] in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but having in addition a decorative and protective covering;

Fig. 9' is a transverse sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 99 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view of the article after a part of the wrapper at an end portion thereof has been removed to expose an end or head portion of the porous member; and

Fig. 11 is a view of the device after the head .has been wetted and has swollen by the absorption of the wetting fluid.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention is shown as comprising a generally cylindric memher composed of porous material, such as sponge cellulose or sponge rubber or the like, and comprising a body portion 2 and an end or head portion 3 to be eventually used as an applicator or swab. Within this member is provided a bore 4 the ele- 30 open at an end of the body 2 and terminating in a recess or pocket 5 in the head 3.

Within this bore is placed an elongated element 6 in the form of a stick or the like and which may be of any material, such as wood, Cellophane, or similar cellulose substance. This element extends into the head 3 and has recesses, cut-outs, or the like 1 in which may be placed and suitably fastened a treating substance, such as tablets. or the like I. Such substance may be a dentifrice which when wetted by water will form an eil'ervescent dentifrice to be applied to the parts of the human body, as themouth, to be treated. Such substance, however, may be of any other kind of treating material, such as an antiseptic, a medicine, a detergent-or the like. The stick 6 is preferably substantially still? and strong so as to give lateral support particularly to the head portion 3 so as to give it firmness and to generally maintain its normal form, and to eliminate tendency to become limp or flabby. With the head 3 substantially firm, it is more eilectively applied to the parts to be treated.

The article as above described, and particularly the porous member I, is then compressed into the compass equivalent to the size of a cigaret, and is enclosed or enveloped in a jacket, wrapper or envelope 9 of sheet material, such as Cellophane or the like, the jacket taking a hollow cylindrical form and being sealed longitudinally so that it will hold the contents in compressed condition. This jacket, wrapper or envelope 3 comprises an end or cap portion It with a twisted closing or sealing end part II, for covering, enclosing and sealing the head portion 3 of the porous member I, andf'a body portion l2 constltuting the remainder of the jacket or wrapdissolve, or effervesce, or the like, and flow out for application to the surface to be treated as thehead3isappliedbytheuser. Whenthe' head 3 is wetted, it will further swell or expand substantially to the size as shown in Fig. 11.

The nature of the porous material is such that on becoming wetted it will ordinarily become limp or flabby, that is, lose a part of its firmness when dry. Hence, I prefer to give the head 3 lateral support to give that head 3 substantial firmness. 10

This is aiforded by the element 0, particularly the part thereof extending into the head 3, as shown in Fig. 3. With such an arrangement the head may be pressed against the parts to be treated, such as the gums of the mouth, or the teeth, or other parts, with such pressure as will cause an oozing of the treating substance, and also as' will be useful for massaging or rubbing, or the like, of the partstobe treated.

While I have herein described and upon the drawing shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invenjacket having an end portion thereof enclosing per which covers and encloses the body portion 2 of the member I. These jacket or wrapper portions l and I2 are connected together by a weakened connection l3, as may be produced by providing the jacket or wrapper with an encircling series of punctures, perforations, or the like,

' whereby the portion l0 may be severed and separated from the portion 12 and removed from the head 3 as shown in Fig. 10. When the portion I0 is so removed, the portion I2 serves the purposes of a handle for manipulative applications of the device.

A decorative andprotecting means l4 may be applied to the body portion [2 of the jacket or wrapper, such means being also of hollow cylin- I dric form and produced from a sheet of Cellophane that is rolled and suitably sealed longitudinally so that this means will act as a cover for the body portion I! of the wrapper 9, also as a strengthener, as well as assisting in performing the function of a handle with the jacket or wrapper 9.

The cover It has an end portion l5 which overlaps or extends slightly beyond the weakened connection I3 to cover it and to protect it from premature severance, as also to maintain it clean and neat.

Touse the device, the user simply breaks or severs the portion ID from the remainder ll of the wrapper 9 by either pulling or turning it to eifect such separation. The cap or hood II is then pulled or slipped 011 of the head 3 which swells or expands to a size substantially as shown in Fig. 10 under its inherent resiliency.

. The head 3 is then dipped into a liquid, such as water, or otherwise suitably wetted, so that the porous material of the head 3 will absorb the liquid and be permeated with it, and conduct it interiorly to the treating substance I which will said end portion of the body and provided with a weakened connection to the remainder of said jacket for severing and removing said end portion of the jacket from the remainder thereof and from said end portion of the body for the latter to e pand.

2.-A mouth freshener and dental cleanser -of the character disclosed, comprising a compressed cylindrical body composed of porous resilient material, a treating substance within an end portion of said body, a jacket enclosing said body and holding said body in compressed condition, said jacket having an end portion thereof enclosing said end portion of the body and provided with a weakened connection to the remainder of said jacket for severing and removing said end portion of the jacket from the remainder thereof and from said end portion of the bodyfor the latter to expand, said end portion of the body being provided with a recess, and said treating substance being in the form of a tablet and located in said recess.

1 3. A month freshener and dental cleanser of the character disclosed, comprising a compressed cylindrical body composed of porous resilient material, a treating substance within an end portion of said body, a jacket enclosing said body and holding said body in compressed condition, said 1 jacket having an'end portion thereof enclosing said end portion. of the body and provided with a weakened connection to the remainder of said jacket for severing and removing said end portion of the jacket from the remainder thereof aa arss terial, a treating substance within an end portion of said body, a jacket enciosingsaid body and holding said body in compressed condition, said jacket having an end portion thereof enclosing said end portion of the body and provided with a weakened connection to the remainder of said jacket for severing and removing said end portion of the jacket from the remainder thereof and from said end portion of the body for the latter to expand, and a protective cover extending over said remainder of the jacket and beyond said weakened connection to protect the same.

5. A mouth ireshener and dental cleanser of the character disclosed, comprising a compressed cylindrical body composed of porous resilient material, a treating substance within an end portion of said body, a jacket enclosing saidbody and holding said body in compressed condition, said jacket having an end portion thereoi! enclosing said end portion of the body and provided with a weakened connection to the remainder of said Jacket for severing and removing said end portion of the jacket from the remainder thereof and from said end portion of the body for the 10 latter to expand, said end portion of said body being provided with a supporting element for maintaining firmness of said end portion of said body.

LOUIS K. BOYSEN. 15 

